WALB GAME OF THE WEEK (9/27/13): Packers, Vikings battle in budding rivalry

VALDOSTA, GA (WALB) -

Two Georgia football powerhouses will collide tonight at the Concrete Palace in another edition of a budding rivalry.

The 3rd ranked Colquitt County Packers travel to Valdosta to take on the 10th ranked Lowndes Vikings in South Georgia's premier showdown.

It will be the opening region game for both.

These two teams have developed quite a rivalry.

With the Vikings winning two of the last three, the Pack are hoping to change their fortunes.

"I think this is a good rivalry, I really do," says Colquitt Co. head coach Rush Propst. "I think they've just done a better job of beating us than we have of them, plain and simple, up to this date."

Lowndes head coach Randy McPherson is happy with the way his team has responded after the Vikings were stunned by Newton three weeks ago.

Since then, Lowndes has blown out every opponent they've faced.

"We're playing well," says McPherson. "We'll find out a lot about our team tomorrow night. We're looking forward to it."

Its impossible to talk about this game without mentioning last year's contest.

After Lowndes escaped Moultrie with a 17-14 upset, Propst accused the Vikings of using a former Packer assistant coach of stealing signs.

The GHSA cleared Lowndes of any wrongdoing after an investigation.

A year later, McPherson refuses to discuss the matter.

Propst will, and wants to apologize.

"I have nothing but great respect for them. I probably overreacted too much last year with that situation," Propst says. "If an apology's necessary, then that's it. That's my apology. I've made mistakes in my life. I've done things I'm not proud of, and I would throw that apology in there with anybody it offended. I'm ready to move on. I'm ready to play football on the field."

They will play football on the field Friday, and it will be a physical war at Martin Stadium.